How to save on food: useful tips

Food is a big expense item in every family's budget. Often there is a need to cut back somewhat on food expenses in order to buy something valuable, such as large appliances, or to save up for an apartment. In addition, even the wealthiest people use proven tips to help them save money on food.

Can It Be Done

It's no secret that the foundation of health is nutrition. This is especially important for children.

Going to learn the secrets of economy, you should know what you can't neglect:

1. Meals should be varied.
2. Breakfast, lunch and dinner in total should serve as a source of daily dose of vitamins and micronutrients for each member of the family.
3. Additional fats in meals are not an urgent need for the body, but a minimum amount should be present.
4. Most meal components can be substituted with less expensive components with minimal damage to taste.

Basic rules for going to the store

These rules should not be neglected, because the strict adherence to them will protect you from spontaneous spending:

1. Under no condition should you go shopping on an empty stomach. Be sure to have a snack, and better yet, a hearty lunch. Elementary statistics show that hungry, even slightly, people spend 30% more on products than satisfied people with the same requests.
2. Before going to the store, you should work hard to make a grocery list. Ideally, if such a list will indicate the approximate weight of each product, as well as the price, which should not be exceeded. So you can roughly calculate how much will be spent on food. And some advanced buyers are guided only by the amount that came up in the calculation, and still manage to spend a little less.
3. A pre-compiled menu for the week helps in making a grocery list. When you have an idea of what to cook, the list forms organically, without frills.
4. Discount cards are also designed to save the family budget.

Behavior While Shopping

There are some tricks that experienced housewives know. This information allows you to buy food in supermarkets economically.

So, it is worth paying attention to the following points:

1. The cheapest products are usually located on the lower shelves. This does not mean that they are inferior in taste or quality to more expensive products. They are worth paying attention to.
2. Buying bulk products, you need to study the packaging. Often the price does not correspond to the weight. Frequent tricks manufacturers - weight 800 or 940 g instead of 1 kg, while the cost is the same.
3. It is advantageous to buy products by weight. This applies to both cereals, flour, sugar, legumes, and vegetables. Often the usual cardboard box for packing several units is reflected by additional numbers on the price tag.
4. Packaged sausages and cheeses are usually more expensive. Also, when buying them, you have to pay extra for the packaging. Even the thinnest slicing tray has its cost.
5. Wholesale grocery shopping is profitable. If the family makes a lot of baking, it makes sense to buy flour and sugar in bags. This will be cheaper than by the weight of individual kilograms. It is worth analyzing your diet to highlight the products that are preferred. It is advantageous to buy at wholesale bases. In addition, in many large hypermarkets for the purchase of large quantities of a single item of goods are offered good discounts.
6. Many have seen on the shelves of goods with red or yellow price tags, which indicate the expiration date. Such products can also be purchased, but they should be consumed first. The only exception is fermented dairy products - this kind of product does not tolerate experimentation with timing, as it is fraught with intestinal disorders.
7. It is better to buy fruits and vegetables in season. Based on the volume of the home freezer, you can freeze the cheapest products at the moment, and then cook them out of season.
8. Some products can be economically bought at farmers' markets. But this is only profitable if the vendors are small farmers who grow small amounts of fruits and vegetables.
9. Instead of buying a plastic bag every time you go to the store, you can take a shopping bag with you. The one-time savings are not very obvious. But if you calculate how much is saved, for example, over six months on bags, a decent amount comes out.
10. Children are the most persistent and demanding customers. If possible, it is better to make major purchases of groceries without their participation.
11. For a clear allocation of the food budget, you can follow the rule: one large purchase per week. Thus, on one of the selected days of the week will be bought food to feed the whole family during the week. On the other days it is allowed to make small purchases, for which it is possible to allocate a strictly defined amount.
12. Making purchases, it is not necessary to exceed the amount of goods. Buying "in advance" is justified only if the product is a favorite on the dinner table.

Saving money in the kitchen

A fairly common situation is when food spoils in the fridge before it reaches the table. Money spent on items of questionable necessity that are simply stored until the expiration date goes into the trash. To prevent such waste, you should buy only what you need, and you should think about that before you buy.

In addition, it is possible to cook economically. As a rule, this approach to food leads to a greater variety of dishes, so limiting the budget for food does not affect the satiety of the household.

Here are some recommendations that can be used to save on food:

1. Store-baked goods should be replaced by homemade ones. You can also experiment with the ingredients, taking buckwheat or rye flour instead of wheat flour. Such delicious treats will not only cost less than in a bakery or supermarket, but will also be healthier.
2. Fancy desserts made with natural ingredients can also be easily made on their own. The most popular today are natural marmalades and candies from fruit puree with the addition of various nuts and dried fruits. And homemade caramel has always been in value with confectioners. Many desserts can be made from homemade jam.
3. It is worth giving up semi-finished products. This applies to purchased goods. Homemade dumplings and dumplings will cost less. And the hostess will be sure that she feeds her family with quality products. Cooking semi-finished products can be made a family tradition, if you involve the children and spouse in this activity.
4. Meat products should not be abandoned in order to save money. There is a profitable option - to diversify the diet of by-products. There are many recipes for cooking tender liver, and soup from chicken hearts is a restaurant dish in some countries.
5. Greens are indispensable for creating flavorful, varied dishes. It makes sense to prepare spices yourself by buying them fresh in season, when the price is low. Parsley, basil, oregano and a number of others can be dried for the winter or chopped with a knife and frozen as briquettes.
6. Tenderloin meat from different parts of the carcass varies in price. The cheaper cuts do not differ much in nutritional value from the more expensive ones. This can also be taken to heart.
7. Various pickles are a kind of help in the kitchen. It is not for nothing that many generations have used this experience in the household. Various jams, pickles, salad and soup preparations can reduce the budget for food during the winter season.
8. Clearly scheduled menu for the week protects against impulse purchases and allows for interesting combinations of familiar products.
9. Different cereals can make up an excellent base for the menu, as well as diversify the usual side dishes. So you can alternate types of wheat groats with buckwheat, rice, as well as cook delicate corn porridge. The variety is huge.
10. You can take an integrated approach to cooking in order to save money. For example, on the broth left after cooking chicken thighs, you can make an excellent soup, and boiled meat to use for cooking pilaf.
11. Sorting out the food in the refrigerator helps many people to manage their households wisely. In addition, it is possible to introduce marking for perishable food. In this way spoilage of products will not be allowed.
12. In order to pamper your family with an original and tasty dish, you do not have to buy expensive products. There are many recipes that can be used to prepare exquisite budget dishes from the products available to every family.

Budget recipes

Delicious - does not mean expensive. As well as economical - does not mean lean. Many hostesses who have decided to reduce their food budget, note that their meals have become more varied and at the same time healthy.

Frugal Pilaf

To prepare this dish, you will need the following ingredients (based on 6 servings):

• rice (full cup or 230 g);
• chicken thighs (500-600 g);;
• carrots (2 pcs.)
• onion (1 pc.)
• garlic (1 head);
• salt (1 tsp.), spices to taste;
• vegetable oil (2 tablespoons).

A cauldron is ideal for cooking this dish, but you can also take a deep frying pan or a saucepan with a thick bottom. First, you should chop and fry the vegetables until golden brown. Chicken thighs cut into large chunks and place them with the onions and carrots. Then add spices, salt and fry the chicken. Add the garlic cloves at the moment when the chicken thighs are almost cooked. Then pour the rice into a bowl and cover with water, so that the level of liquid is 2 fingers above the level of cereal. Cook over low heat, stirring as necessary. If the pilaf is cooked in a cauldron, there is no need to stir it.

Cabbage Pie with Fish

To prepare you need to take:

• cabbage (0.5 kg);
• flour (1 cup);
• soda and salt (0.5 tsp. each);
• vegetable oil (1.5 tbsp);
• kefir (2 cups);
• eggs (2 pcs.)
• canned fish (1 can).

To prepare this sauce pie, you will need an oven heated to 180°C.

1. Chop the cabbage as finely as possible, then fry it in the oil. Leave a small amount of oil to grease the baking tin.
2. Pour the canned fish into the stewed cabbage - this mass will serve as a filling. Separately, prepare the dough by mixing baking soda and flour with kefir and eggs whipped with salt. The ideal dough should be moderately viscous, almost liquid.
3. Pour some of the batter onto the baking tray, then place the filling. Cover the cabbage and fish with the remaining batter and send to the oven for 40 minutes.

From the specified amount of ingredients you get 4 servings.

Pasta with meatballs

To prepare 1 portion of the dish you will need:

• pasta (60 g);
• chicken fillet (130 g)
• Canned tomatoes (crushed or as a sauce - 2 tbsp;)
• onion (quarter)
• salt (to taste);
• water (0.5 cup);
• vegetable oil (1 tbsp.).

Process:

1. Grind chicken fillets into minced meat, then add salt, spices and finely chopped onions. Form the meat dough into small meatballs, which are fried in a pan until tender.
2. After frying, fill the meat balls with mashed tomatoes and water and stew for about 10 minutes under a closed lid.
3. Simultaneously boil pasta in salted water in a desired shape.
4. When serving the dish to the table put the meatballs on top of the pasta. Make sure to pour gravy over the pasta.

Tip! If you buy a brisket on the bone for the meatballs, it will be cheaper. And if you use pasta in the form of tubes, plates or large noodles, the dish will look really Italian.

Baked potatoes with chicken

To prepare 1 serving you will need the following products:

• potatoes (2 pcs.);
• chicken shank (2 pcs.)
• salt (0.5 tsp.)
• garlic (1 clove);
• oil (1 tbsp.)
• baking sleeve.

The dish is prepared quite simply, but requires the presence of an oven, which should be heated to 200°C. The spices should be mixed with oil and this mixture should be rubbed on chicken shanks. Then place them in the sleeve together with sliced potatoes. The time for cooking is about 40 minutes.

Pot with mushrooms and buckwheat

To fill 1 pot you will need the following products:

• buckwheat (80 g);
• mushrooms (100 g);
• onions (0,5 pcs.)
• salt (0,5 tsp.)
• vegetable oil (1 tbsp.).

First, you need to chop the mushrooms and fry them. After the mushrooms are golden brown, you can salt them, and then add the onions.

Wash buckwheat with water, put it in a pot and add the stewed mushrooms. Before you send the container to the oven heated to 180 ° C, pour boiling water over the contents to 1 cm above the groats and stir.

The dish will be ready after 45-50 minutes.

Tip! The contents of the pot, excluding water, should occupy no more than 50% of its volume.

Pollack with vegetables

To prepare this dish, which acts as a full-fledged fish dish with a side dish, you will need the following ingredients:

• pollack - carcass (200 g);
• potatoes and carrots (1 pc.)
• onion (0.5 pcs.);
• vegetable oil (1 tbsp.).

Cut the fish into large chunks. Shred the onion and carrot. Mint stew in a pan with vegetables. Boil potatoes separately, cut into cubes and serve as a garnish.

Aromatic potato casserole

Dish components:

• potatoes (700 g);
• eggs (2 units); - sour cream (200 g)
• sour cream (200 g);
• garlic (3 cloves);
• salt (1 tsp.)
• vegetable oil (1 tbsp.).

Cut into circles the pre-boiled potatoes in their peel. Put them into oiled form.

For the filling chop garlic and mix it with the rest of the ingredients. Pour the mixture over the potatoes and put into a heated oven (180-200°C). The dish will cook for about 20 minutes.

The recipe is designed for 6 servings.

Cabbage meatballs

For 8 servings you will need the following products:

• white rice (200 g);
• chicken filet (700 g);
• white cabbage (600 g)
• tomato paste (2 tablespoons);
• vegetable oil (1 tbsp.);
• salt (1 tsp.);
• spices (to taste).

Prepare minced chicken meat, salt and pepper it. Add boiled and cooled rice. Mix it. Make meat balls out of the mass.

Finely chop the cabbage and put some of it on the oiled bottom of a cauldron or a saucepan with a thick bottom. Then lay the meatballs and cabbage alternately in layers. After laying the entire volume pour tomato paste diluted in a glass of boiling water. Cook about 1 hour under a closed lid.

Draniki with liver

To prepare a dish for two will require the following components:

• potatoes (2 pcs.);
• chicken liver (300 g)
• one egg (1 egg); - flour (20 g)
• flour (20 g); - liver
• cream (80 g)
• vegetable oil (2 tablespoons)
• onion (quarter);
• salt (1 tsp.).

The first part of cooking the dish - stewing the liver. Cut in cubes, fry in a pan, then pour the cream and, covering with a lid, cook on low heat.

At this time, grate potato tubers, squeeze out excess water, then add chopped onion, egg and dry ingredients and knead the dough. Fry the dreadlocks in oil. Serve with a sprinkle of liver stewed in cream on top.

The recipe is designed for 6 servings.

Tip! To prepare this dish, you can also take beef liver. It is tougher than chicken liver, but if it is soaked in milk or cream before cooking, which can then be used for stewing, the dish will be tender and juicy.

Fish sticks with a side dish of green peas

To prepare the portion for 1 person you will need the following products

• pollack (1 piece of fillet);
• oat flakes (30 gr.)
• Egg (1 pc.)
• frozen green peas (150 g);
• spices and salt (to taste);
• butter (5 g).

Cut thawed fish fillets into pieces of desired shape. The most popular version - in the form of thick strips. Batter for fish consists of a dry part - ground in a blender oatmeal flakes, and liquid - an egg whipped with salt.

Place strips of fish fillet on a hot oiled frying pan, pre-dipped in beaten egg and then rolled in oatmeal. Fry on both sides, turning gently when golden brown.

Defrost green peas, used as a garnish, and then fry in a pan. Oil can be added as desired.

Tip! If you fry green peas in butter, the taste will be richer and the finished dish will be more flavorful.

Some more tips for saving money

Our food life is not limited to one kitchen, so we should also take care to allocate money wisely for meals outside the home. The following tips can help:

1. You can bring lunch to work with you. Prepared in advance at home, it will not only save you from unnecessary expenses, but also allow you to get a full refreshment during your lunch break.
2. Coffee machines are significant budget eaters. Going to work, it's a good idea to bring a separate can of coffee with you, along with a few servings of sugar and tea. This will allow you to enjoy a cup of flavored drink without leaving the workplace.
3. Going for a long walk or to a fitness club, you should also take care of a snack in advance. You can take with you stubbed carrots, an apple or even some meatballs. Stop for a small lunch at a nearby park. There is a chance to get an aesthetic pleasure from the meal at the same time. In addition, such a planned snack outside the walls of the house will allow you to better resist the urge to pop into the nearest bakery or establishment where quick food of dubious quality is prepared.

Saving on food doesn't necessarily imply strict limitations. It is often the case that cutting the family food budget begins the journey to a healthier and more sustainable diet. But you don't have to strictly follow the restrictions, because rigid limits often have a negative effect on eating behavior. Sometimes you can treat yourself to a favorite treat or go out to an interesting restaurant.